Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has admitted that Harvey Elliott’s performances have fallen short of what is needed to secure him a place in the starting XI. The Liverpool loanee has been left on the bench in each of Villa’s last three games, including Thursday night’s shock defeat to Dutch underdogs Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League.
Elliott played just five games during his loan spell and will become a permanent contract once he reaches double digits. However, he has started only two of the games he has played so far, one of which he was sent off at half-time. Emery explained: “I am very demanding of myself in choosing the players who start, the players on the bench and the players who come on as substitutes for each game, and first of all I always try to get the best overall performance through the individual players.”
“Harvey is number 10 in our system, in our shape, and he has played a few games, but there is still some adaptation to add himself individually to our system, and that is the challenge we have. Of course, he is training well and his commitment is very good, but his performances (up to this point) have not been good enough.”
“At the same time, we have other players who can play as number 10 and they are performing well and I have another player.
“This is the main reason why he will not be able to play in the last game, but he has to continue to work as he has been doing in the training sessions and of course we have to gain the confidence in the performance that we need through him.”
Elliott, who captained the England U-21 team to victory at the European Championship in the summer, has the ability to play wide on the right wing, but Emery is hesitant to use him there. “His quality, in my opinion, is that he can play as number 10,” added the Spaniard.
“He could play on the right side like John McGinn, but he would need more time. Initially, I signed him with the intention of him playing as a number 10, performing well and playing consistently for us. There are other players who can play there.”
Elliott left Liverpool on transfer deadline day to join Villa on a loan deal in which he would make 10 appearances for the club, with an obligation of £35m to make the move permanent at the end of the season.
The boyhood Red returned to Merseyside and revealed in September after playing for his new team in a 0-0 draw with Everton. “It was very difficult. First of all it was the decision to leave and then to find the best club. There were some difficult decisions that had to be made.
“I had to sit down and talk to the team and work out a lot of details, but that was the decision and the decision to come here. I’m happy with it. Like I said in that interview[when I signed]I’m very happy to be here and I really want to kick off and get this club to where they deserve.”
“Anything is possible with this team and we just keep fighting together and moving forward. I mean, for me, I loved every moment of it, every second, every day. I wouldn’t change that to be honest. I learned a lot and experienced a lot by being there.”
“But I think the most important thing for me when making the decision was to play in the first team. I need to be in a team where I can play regularly.”
“Whether it’s starting or coming off the bench, coming into game day knowing I’m going to play is the only way I can improve right now.
“The love that I have for Liverpool will always be there and will never change and I will continue to watch and watch over them from afar. I wish them all the best.”
“But sometimes in football you have to be selfish. I wanted to do what was best for me and that’s why I decided to leave. I’m taking my experience and everything I learned at Liverpool and I hope I can start now.”
